As we head into the new year, I’m thinking about numbers — 2015 is the number of the year being ushered in, and it has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? Personally, I just like it for the sequencing, as well as the sound of it, but there are others who see the significance in No. 15.

This is the Year of the Sheep, specifically the green sheep. Apparently, that means “meek,” for some who follow the Chinese zodiac calendar.

Ironically, No. 15 in numerology means “spirited” or “spunky” — so, when meek meets spunky, what happens then? I guess we’ll find out this upcoming year. Fifteen also is the number of the “Magic Square,” and biblically, it means “rest.” For those who are into mathematics, 15 is a triangular number — meaning 1 + 2 + 3+ 4+ 5 equals 15. And for those of us who love our sports jersey numbers, 15 proudly was worn by Green Bay Packers Hall of Famer Bart Starr.

Here are a few numbers I’d like to see in 2015:

One — Hawaii’s Marcus Mariota leading Oregon to the Rose Bowl title Jan. 1, a spot in the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship in Texas Jan. 12, an eventual No. 1 ranking and a first championship trophy to finish his Heisman trophy-winning collegiate career, and being selected No. 1 in the NFL draft.

Five — The number of years on a signed contract I’d like to see for a visionary, positive, efficient, team-building and great fundraising new University of Hawaii athletics director.

Six — The number of wins I’d like to see the UH baseball team pick up in its 12 games against Oregon, Pepperdine and Oklahoma in February and March. Splitting each of the three four-game series against these powerful diamond foes could launch the ‘ Bows toward NCAA regional consideration.

Seven — The number of wins the Rainbow Warrior football team needs to win in 2015 to become Hawaii Bowl eligible and to start turning the corner toward success.

Eight — The number of conference wins the Hawaii men’s basketball team should achieve as its minimum goal in Big West conference play. That would mean a .500 conference record and a shot at reaching 20 overall victories by tournament time. That’s a good minimum goal for the Hawaii women’s team, too — with the idea of pushing
that win total as high as possible by season’s end.

20 — The number of total victories I’d like to see many of our PacWest basketball teams achieve by the end of this season. Many of our teams, including BYU-Hawaii men, HPU men and women, Chaminade men and Hawaii Hilo men, along with several Mainland teams, were off to strong starts prior to the winter break.

30 — A solid victory total for the UH Wahine softball team this year. Bob Coolen’s Wahine face Oklahoma, St. Mary’s and DePaul in their season-opening tournament in February, with battle powerhouses like Washington and UCLA along the way.

40,41,42,43,44,45 — or whatever number of years Dave Shoji wants to eventually coach, as he wraps up his legendary career at the helm of the UH Rainbow Wahine volleyball team. Nobody has done it better for the past four decades, and Coach Shoji deserves to call the ultimate number when he’s finally ready to start enjoying his much-deserved retirement.